VOLUME 15 NUMBER 37
THE MONTH OF THE BITTER ROOT
MAY 5, 1987
Tribes decline fishing invitation; wish protesters good luck
Two of Lake County's three commissioners attempted to defy Tribal law April 24 by going fishing on state-owned property within Reservation boundaries without the required Tribal recreation permit and fishing stamp.
Their plan, announced in advance to area newspapers, and radio and TV stations, didn't go according to the script, however. They weren't cited into court as they expected. Instead,
they were issued complimentary three-day permits about an hour before they set out, which took the sting out of their "grandstanding", in the words of Ron Therriault.
The two, Mike Hutchin and Ray Harbin, declined to accept the permits, but Tribal Chairman Mickey Pablo said that didn't matter. The permits, in the form of a letter, were valid nonetheless.
Pablo said the decision not to issue citations was based on the Council's desire to not jeopardize on-going negotiations with the state on the application of Ordinance 44D.
"The Tribes believe that it is premature and foolish to lock horns in protracted litigation with the state or its political subdivisions over the application and enforcement of Tribal Ordinance 44 D without first giving the discussions with the State of Montana
Elders Week May 5-9
Two Eagle River School each year hosts a week of special cultural activity called Elders Week.
Due to lack of funding, the event won't feature a camp-out along the Flathead River as has been the custom. This year's site will be the school's Dixon headquarters, with the pow wow being held at the community center in St. Ignatius.
Everything Degan the morning of May 5 with a parent-staff training' session and some Native American games.
the opportunity to run their course," Pablo noted in the permit-letter.
"Why derail and disrupt these ongoing discussions by precipitating litigation?" he asked.
"The Tribes are disappointed that the Lake County commissioners have opted to engage in bellicose press releases and fishing expeditions. Not only is this poor diplomacy, it could prove very costly to all parties concerned, including Lake County taxpayers and other Montana taxpayers who would have to foot the state's attorneys' fees. If necessary, the Tribes fully intend to and are capable of defending the Tribes' sovereignty in the courts - regardless of the costs. But we believe litigation should be an act of last resort, not of first resort.
"We do not intend to allow Lake County's precipitous actions to (Continues on page two)
On the agenda for the rest of the week will be the raising and painting of tepees, video showings, a canoe race, a tour of Painted Rocks, meat-gathering and preparation, stick-games, a giveaway, and, of course, a pow wow.
Here's the agenda (subject to change):
TUESDAY, May 5: Introduction at 8:45 a.m.; Native American games; parent and staff training workshop.
(Concludes on page four)